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Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch

Butterscotch Shenanigans

Coffee with Butterscotch is the hilarity-filled weekly podcast of award-winning indie video game studio Butterscotch Shenanigans, best known for its smash hit Crashlands. Grab a drink and tune in every week to learn the ins and outs of game development, productivity and workflows, the business of selling video games, our takes on entrepreneurship and building a small company from scratch, and how to be an unstoppable problem-solving machine.

Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Ask us at https://podcast.bscotch.net

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  • 27 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 5 min
  • English

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Episodes 27

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  • Wednesday · 58 min

    [Ep593] Top 5 Myths About Steam Wishlists

    In episode 593 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers debunk common myths about Steam wishlists and how they influence game success. They explore how external marketing, timing, and understanding Steam's algorithms are crucial for indie developers aiming for success. "How Many Dudes?": https://howmanydudes.com 00:00 Understanding Steam Wishlists 10:08 The Myth of Accumulating Wishlists 17:32 Public Awareness and Marketing Impact 19:23 Understanding Wishlists and Their Impact 20:15 The Role of Nextfest in Wishlist Generation 23:07 Mechanisms of Steam and Wishlist Notifications 25:51 The Bucket Analogy: Wishlists as a Metric 27:41 Nextfest: An Event for Players, Not Developers 30:53 Debunking the Myth of Wishlist Decay 38:51 The Importance of Accumulating Wishlists 39:32 The Myth of Magic Numbers in Game Development 42:05 Understanding Wishlists and Steam's Discovery Queue 43:58 The Impact of Wishlists on Launch Sales 46:59 The Role of Marketing in Game Success 51:02 Launch Strategies and Community Building Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coffeewithbutterscotch Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/1LxNEnk Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/bscotch Support the podcast: https://moneygrab.bscotch.net Looking for help making and publishing your own games? Check out LudoKit, the web service we're building to help us with our own games: https://ludokit.com ★ Support this podcast ★

  • September 30 · 2 hr 11 min

    [Ep592] How IRON NEST Won Steam Next Fest and Launched With Nearly 1 MILLION Wishlists

    In episode 592 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers welcome their first ever podcast guests Nick and Dominik, the team behind IRON NEST. Seth and Sam walk through the entire dev cycle with them, from how they chose the name and built a thriving Discord community to the marketing decisions that drove nearly a million wishlists. It's a candid conversation about pivoting on data, leaning into community feedback, and what authentic engagement actually looks like when it's working. "How Many Dudes?": https://howmanydudes.com IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2950790/IRON_NEST_Heavy_Turret_Simulator/ 00:00 Cold Open 00:40 Introduction and Welcome 05:53 Understanding the Importance of Marketing in Game Development 11:50 The Role of Key Art and Game Fantasy 17:44 The Impact of Social Media on Game Promotion 23:21 The Appeal of Unique Game Concepts 28:54 Building Anticipation and Community Engagement 34:55 Navigating Reddit and Community Engagement 41:02 The Dynamics of Viral Content 47:19 Leveraging YouTube Shorts for Game Trailers 52:51 Strategic Marketing Decisions: Call to Action and Trailer Length 57:28 Building in Public: The Discord Zoo Experience 01:11:36 Creating Momentum: The Nestfest Strategy 01:15:53 Learning from Playtest Failures 01:20:51 Leveraging User-Generated Content 01:24:42 Next Fest Launch and Wishlist Surge 01:33:52 Understanding Demos and Playtests 01:39:46 Funding Through Community Support 01:40:48 Navigating Launch Timing and Strategy 01:42:47 Community Involvement in Localization 01:43:51 The Importance of Personal Touch in Marketing 01:45:57 Finalizing Game Content Before Launch 01:46:49 Community Support and Feedback During Development 01:54:49 Empowering Community Engagement 01:56:52 Optimizing Store Page for Launch 02:00:49 Navigating Bundles and Discounts 02:04:50 Launch Day Experience 02:10:48 Community Impact on Success Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coffeewithbutterscotch Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/1LxNEnk Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/bscotch Support the podcast: https://moneygrab.bscotch.net Looking for help making and publishing your own games? Check out LudoKit, the web service we're building to help us with our own games: https://ludokit.com ★ Support this podcast ★

  • September 23 · 1 hr 6 min

    [Ep591] How To Make An Indie Studio That Makes Hit Games

    In episode 591 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dig into what actually makes a small studio function well over the long haul. Using Butterscotch Shenanigans as the through line, they walk through how their team structure has evolved, how they think about hiring, bottlenecks, and unexpected skills and what it looks like to keep a small team functioning well through years of shipping games. "How Many Dudes?": https://howmanydudes.com 00:00 Cold Open 00:28 Introduction and Welcome 03:08 Understanding Team Topologies and Their Impact 06:14 The Role of Individual Skills in Team Dynamics 09:09 Case Study: Butterscotch Shenanigans' Team Evolution 12:00 Navigating Hiring Challenges and Team Growth 14:57 The Synergy of Team Members and Their Contributions 22:22 Collaborative Dynamics in Indie Studios 25:34 Expanding Team Capabilities and Bottlenecks 27:09 Adapting Roles and Responsibilities 29:15 Unexpected Skills and Team Adaptation 34:05 Continuous Integration and Development Philosophy 38:06 Quality Assurance and Testing Strategies 46:17 Small Batch Delivery and Automated Processes 51:23 The Role of Productivity Engineering 55:26 Team Structure and Management Philosophy 01:01:04 Collaboration and Bottlenecks in Game Development 01:05:47 Shaping the Studio for Success Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coffeewithbutterscotch Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/1LxNEnk Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/bscotch Support the podcast: https://moneygrab.bscotch.net Looking for help making and publishing your own games? Check out LudoKit, the web service we're building to help us with our own games: https://ludokit.com ★ Support this podcast ★

  • September 16 · 1 hr 12 min

    [Ep590] Hackers, Piracy, and Clones - How Should Indie Game Devs React?

    In episode 590 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers work through every flavor of people messing with your game, from hackers and exploiters to pirates and outright clones. They dig into what's actually worth losing sleep over, how to think about customer support when players break things on purpose, and why piracy and knockoffs might not always be the disaster they feel like in the moment. "How Many Dudes?": https://howmanydudes.com 00:00 Cold Open 00:28 Introduction and Welcome 04:55 Understanding Hacking and Game Exploits 11:39 Customer Support and Hacking Issues 17:13 Multiplayer Challenges and Hacking Prevention 21:50 Game Breaking Strategies 26:12 Game Mechanics and Player Engagement 28:57 Balancing Game Design and Player Experience 32:10 The Concept of Save Scumming 38:37 Intellectual Property Challenges in Game Development 42:21 Understanding Game Reviews and Player Feedback 51:59 The Silver Lining of Theft 53:56 The Impact of Piracy on Game Success 59:58 Understanding Clones and Rip-offs Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coffeewithbutterscotch Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/1LxNEnk Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/bscotch Support the podcast: https://moneygrab.bscotch.net Looking for help making and publishing your own games? Check out LudoKit, the web service we're building to help us with our own games: https://ludokit.com ★ Support this podcast ★

  • September 9 · 1 hr 7 min

    [Ep589] The One Skill Holding Back Indie Game Devs

    In episode 589 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers make the case that understanding your own workflow might be the most underrated skill in game development. They dig into how invisible bottlenecks and unchecked error rates quietly drain productivity, why most studio problems trace back to work that nobody can see, and what it actually looks like to map, measure, and improve the way your team gets things done. "How Many Dudes?": https://howmanydudes.com Stress-Free Game Development GDC Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9HRzE7_2Xc The Phoenix Project: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0988262592 The DevOps Handbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09G2GS39R 00:00 Cold Open 00:38 Introduction and Welcome 02:16 Understanding Workflows in Game Development 05:34 The Importance of Managing Workflows 08:24 The Role of Bottlenecks in Development 11:22 Defining Workflows and Their Impact 14:24 Identifying Errors and Waste in Workflows 17:15 Improving Quality of Life in Workflows 20:22 Personalizing Workflow Solutions 22:24 Understanding Error Rates and Workflow Efficiency 26:14 Chaining Problems Together in Workflows 32:04 Making Work Visible for Better Workflow 36:15 The Importance of Documentation and Communication 40:26 From Pre-Production to Production: Establishing Processes 48:13 Iterative Improvement in Game Development 01:00:28 Managing Team Growth and Complexity Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coffeewithbutterscotch Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/1LxNEnk Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/bscotch Support the podcast: https://moneygrab.bscotch.net Looking for help making and publishing your own games? Check out LudoKit, the web service we're building to help us with our own games: https://ludokit.com ★ Support this podcast ★

  • September 2 · 1 hr 5 min

    [Ep588] Can One Screenshot Boost Your Steam Sales by 25%?

    In episode 588 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers get into the weeds on Steam store page optimization and what the data from How Many Dudes is suggesting. They break down what swapping screenshots and micro trailers appears to have done for visibility and conversion, where players are actually coming from, and why your visual hook might be doing more work than you think. "How Many Dudes?": https://howmanydudes.com 00:00 Cold Open 00:48 Introduction and Welcome 02:25 Sales Performance Analysis 08:13 Comparative Sales Metrics 11:29 The Importance of Game Hooks 17:26 Store Page Optimization Strategies 26:26 Understanding Traffic and Conversion Rates 33:34 Analyzing Game Hooks and Marketing Strategies 39:24 Micro Trailers and Their Impact on Sales 45:24 Evaluating Game Trailers and Marketing Strategies 48:51 Understanding Conversion Rates and Traffic Sources 54:15 The Role of Unique Selling Points in Game Design 59:36 Navigating Store Page Dynamics and User Behavior 01:03:29 The Importance of End-to-End Game Experience Awareness Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coffeewithbutterscotch Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/1LxNEnk Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/bscotch Support the podcast: https://moneygrab.bscotch.net Looking for help making and publishing your own games? Check out LudoKit, the web service we're building to help us with our own games: https://ludokit.com ★ Support this podcast ★

  • August 26 · 1 hr 4 min

    [Ep587] Are we in an Indie Golden Age?

    In episode 587 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers point out that right now might actually be the best time to be an indie developer. They dig into why smaller, faster games are resonating with players, what the data from How Many Dudes tells them about market dynamics and visibility, and how studios can build sustainable businesses without burning themselves out in the process. "How Many Dudes?": https://howmanydudes.com "How Many Dudes?" Timeline blog: https://blog.bscotch.net/post/indie-game-dev-timeline-for-how-many-dudes/ 00:00 Cold Open 00:31 Introduction and Welcome 02:15 Postmortem Analysis of 'How Many Dudes' 05:06 Understanding Game Success and Market Dynamics 08:08 The Importance of Research and Development 11:06 Interpreting Data and Making Decisions 14:04 The Great Conjunction in Indie Game Development 17:04 The Appeal of Smaller Indie Games 20:14 Market Dynamics and Player Behavior 29:35 Balancing Game Length and Player Engagement 35:06 Navigating Post-Launch Updates and Player Expectations 49:09 The Dilemma of Updating Underperforming Games 50:05 Understanding Visibility and Market Demand 54:05 The Importance of External Traffic for Game Sales 59:45 The Distinction Between Game Quality and Market Appeal 01:02:02 The Role of Cultural Relevance in Game Success Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coffeewithbutterscotch Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/1LxNEnk Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/bscotch Support the podcast: https://moneygrab.bscotch.net Looking for help making and publishing your own games? Check out LudoKit, the web service we're building to help us with our own games: https://ludokit.com ★ Support this podcast ★

  • August 19 · 1 hr 10 min

    [Ep586] How Should Indie Devs Think about Post-Launch Updates?

    In episode 586 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers discuss the current state of game sales, post-launch support strategies, and how community engagement and critical mass influence a game's longevity. They explore the strategic considerations behind post-launch game updates, including when to update, what kind of updates are effective, and how updates influence marketing and player engagement. "How Many Dudes?": https://howmanydudes.com 00:00 Cold Open 00:33 Introduction and Welcome 04:36 Current Status of 'How Many Dudes' Sales 10:44 Sales Trends and Market Analysis 20:50 Community Engagement and Critical Mass 22:10 The Impact of Game Awards on Sales 25:13 Post-Launch Strategies: What Comes Next? 26:28 Deciding on Updates: When to Move On 29:04 The Role of Player Base in Game Success 31:04 Transformative Updates: When a Game Needs a Relaunch 35:57 The Dilemma of Post-Launch Support 38:24 Navigating the Risks of Game Launches 42:16 The Importance of Marketing and Social Graphs 44:39 Testing Theories: Making Meaningful Updates 48:28 The Impact of Game Updates on Player Sentiment 51:02 Influencer Activity and Marketing Opportunities 53:00 Leveraging Updates for Marketing Success 56:06 The Role of Free Updates vs. DLCs 01:02:11 Evaluating Opportunity Costs in Game Development Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coffeewithbutterscotch Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/1LxNEnk Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/bscotch Support the podcast: https://moneygrab.bscotch.net Looking for help making and publishing your own games? Check out LudoKit, the web service we're building to help us with our own games: https://ludokit.com ★ Support this podcast ★

  • August 12 · 1 hr 11 min

    [Ep585] How Should Indie Devs React to Negative Steam Reviews?

    In episode 585 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dig into the post-launch data for How Many Dudes, unpacking what Steam review scores, wishlist ratios, playtime histograms, and demo numbers are actually telling them. From there they get into the harder question of what to do with negative reviews, how to tell the difference between feedback worth acting on and noise worth ignoring, and how they're thinking about difficulty and accessibility as the game finds its audience. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:26 Introduction and Welcome 02:16 Post-launch HMD community feedback 07:25 Wishlists trend and projections 13:42 Demo and full launch relationship 28:10 Accessing feedback 37:08 Addressing negative feedback 41:35 Conflicting feedback 50:47 Updating the game based on feedback To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • August 5 · 1 hr 11 min

    [Ep584] 100,000 Steam Sales in 2 Days - Our Biggest Indie Game Launch Ever

    In episode 584 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers are fresh off the biggest launch in Butterscotch history, and they're breaking down exactly what happened. They dig into the numbers behind How Many Dudes hitting 100,000 sales in two days, what drove the momentum, how it compares to their previous launches, and what the long tail might look like from here. They also get into the emotional side of shipping something this fast, what mobile looks like as a next step, and what a launch like this means for how they think about building games going forward. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:31 Introduction and Welcome 01:34 Post-launch How Many Dudes? numbers 13:25 Wishlists trend and price strategy 15:25 Understanding platform algorithms and visibility 26:43 Comparing launch metrics 33:29 Mobile numbers and launch metrics 42:00 Community feedback 45:32 Emotional arc after the launch 01:04 Evaluating the game dev approach for HMD To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • July 29 · 1 hr 15 min

    [Ep583] The Day Before Launch: Scenario Planning for Indie Game Devs

    In episode 583 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers are one day out from the How Many Dudes launch and walking through everything still in motion, from wishlist momentum and embargo management to Steam Deck verification and what the algorithm might actually do. They share how they're thinking through best and worst case scenarios, what lessons from Crashlands 2 are shaping their expectations, and how to stay sane when everything is out of your hands. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:29 Introduction and Welcome 01:57 Pre-launch preparations and expectations 03:58 Tracking wishlists and launch momentum 06:01 Understanding platform algorithms and visibility 08:14 Managing embargoes and influencer coverage 10:09 Dealing with embargo breaks and public reactions 12:02 Impact of demo updates and new content 15:06 Community feedback and stereotypes in game content 18:56 Post-launch content and ongoing engagement 20:50 Leveraging short-form videos and social media 24:03 Viral content and audience engagement 30:02 Platform feature opportunities and challenges 33:02 Lessons learned and final advice for indie devs 41:44 Initial challenges with verification and wishlists 45:27 Audience demographics and regional differences 48:18 Comparing launch metrics: Crashlands 2 vs. How Many Dudes? 51:52 Managing launch day activities and team coordination 55:14 Handling community feedback and negative comments 01:00:17 Setting expectations and scenario planning for launch 01:07:09 Post-launch analysis and adjusting expectations To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • July 22 · 1 hr 11 min

    [Ep582] How to Design a Game That Markets Itself

    In episode 582 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers share what they've learned about designing games that are easy to talk about before they're even finished. With How Many Dudes days from launch, they dig into how scope, platform focus, and building around shared human experiences can set a game up to market itself. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:26 Introduction and Welcome 02:36 Letting Content Dictate the Format of Your Game 05:03 The Importance of Cultural Context and Invisible Influences 09:50 Design Constraints: Mass Contentability and Approachability 15:08 Market Testing and Early Feedback Strategies 20:00 Pivoting and Iteration: When and How to Change Course 24:51 Using Community and Social Media for Feedback 30:04 Balancing Creativity, Marketability, and Execution 35:05 The Challenges and Realities of Solo Development 40:05 Leveraging Past Success and Market Trends 45:00 The Power of High-Level Concepts and Simplicity 50:01 Avoiding Over-Reliance on Genre and Trends 55:01 The Iterative Process: From Idea to Market-Ready Game 59:57 Handling Failures and Pivoting Effectively 01:04:52 The Role of Marketing and Community Engagement 01:09:58 Final Tips for Indie Developers and Future Planning To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • July 15 · 56 min

    [Ep581] 1 Year of Indie Game Dev in 1 Hour

    In episode 581 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers recap the full year-long journey of How Many Dudes. From a GMTK game jam entry to a bean burrito short that hit 900k views, blowing past 100k wishlists by January, and everything in between. They break down what actually moved the needle, what the numbers looked like along the way, and what the final push to July 30th looks like from the inside. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:19 Introduction and Welcome 02:02 Retrospective of 'How Many Dudes' development 04:21 Using game jams as market testing 08:24 Early marketing efforts and wish list milestones 12:08 Impact of YouTube Shorts and influencer videos 16:28 The role of signals and metrics in decision making 22:16 Store page strategy and launch preparations 27:15 Marketing levers and cross-promotion tactics 33:56 Demo release and early feedback 44:23 Post-launch growth and community engagement 50:12 Final preparations and launch day insights To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • July 8 · 59 min

    #[Ep580] Anatomy of a Steam Game Launch - Indie Devs Reveal Their Launch Strategy

    In episode 580 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers pull back the curtain on exactly how they're launching How Many Dudes, covering everything from timing, influencer outreach, trailer creation, to post-launch strategies. They discuss how they navigate the complexities of game marketing, with a reminder that most of what determines a launch's success was decided long before launch day. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:27 Introduction and Welcome 02:44 Game Development Status 08:28 Marketing Strategies and Influencer Outreach 11:37 Handling Embargoes and Coverage 14:40 Final Preparations Before Launch 21:41 Crafting Effective Launch Trailers 23:48 Understanding Audience Engagement and Store Page Dynamics 25:36 The Role of Influencers in Game Marketing 29:43 Navigating Pre-Launch Strategies and Expectations 34:45 Leveraging Ads and Algorithmic Visibility 39:34 Game Design Decisions and Player Experience 43:39 Innovative Marketing Strategies for Indie Games 48:06 Navigating Influencer Marketing Challenges 50:46 The Role of Reviews in Game Success 52:34 Balancing Passion and Commercial Viability 55:48 Challenges in Mobile Game Launches To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • July 1 · 1 hr 3 min

    [Ep579] Xbox, PS5, Steam Machine, & GTA6 - are they charging too much?

    In episode 579 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dig into the pricing on Valve's new Steam Machine and how much of today's hardware costs comes down to components, inflation, and tariffs versus companies testing what the market will bear. From there, they turn to the cost of making a game like GTA6 and whether player expectations have kept pace with what it actually takes to build at that scale. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:18 Introduction and Welcome 02:47 Pricing and Market Context 05:37 Component Costs and Inflation Impact 08:45 Comparative Analysis of Console Prices 11:41 Historical Pricing Trends in Gaming 17:46 The Value Proposition of the Steam Machine 26:58 Analyzing Price Increases in Gaming Consoles 29:56 Understanding Market Dynamics and Price Strategies 33:55 The Impact of Inflation on Gaming Costs 41:51 Grand Theft Auto Pricing and Market Reactions 48:48 Early Access and Monetization Strategies 53:49 The Cost of Gaming Hardware 56:31 Consumer Expectations and Pricing 01:00:16 Valve's Position in the Gaming Market To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • June 24 · 1 hr 8 min

    [Ep578] Has AI Ruined Steam Nextfest?

    In episode 578 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers discuss whether Steam Next Fest is becoming a victim of its own success, as AI-generated slop and asset flips make it harder than ever for games to get noticed. They explore what Steam can realistically do about it, why the economics of publishing are shifting under everyone's feet, and what it actually takes to build the kind of studio track record that cuts through the noise when algorithms start failing you. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:30 Introduction and Welcome 03:37 The Evolution of Demos on Steam 06:28 The Impact of AI on Game Development 10:28 The Rise of Asset Flips and Slop Games 14:22 The Future of Game Discovery on Steam 18:37 The Philosophy Behind Steam's Store Policies 28:53 The Cost of Entry for Game Publishing 34:54 The Impact of AI on Game Quality 38:49 The Challenge of Game Discovery 42:48 The Existential Threat to Steam 47:54 Future of Game Publishing and AI Regulation 50:38 Navigating AI Accusations in Game Development 55:01 The Importance of Building a Studio Following 01:00:03 Marketing Strategies for Indie Games 01:05:07 The Role of AI in Game Development 01:09:16 The Future of Game Discovery on Steam To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • June 17 · 1 hr 5 min

    #[Ep577] Indie Devs React to Steam's New Personal Calendar

    In episode 577 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dig into Steam's new personalized calendar feature and what it means for how indie games get discovered, wishlisted, and surfaced to players. They break down the difference between following and wishlisting, why launch timing still matters so much, and how Steam keeps finding new ways to put indie games in front of the right people. Then they shift into How Many Dudes beta testing, where player feedback is reshaping difficulty tuning and revealing just how differently people approach the same fight. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:36 Introduction and Welcome 01:35 Steam Changes and Their Impact 04:36 The New Calendar Feature on Steam 07:28 Wishlist Dynamics and User Engagement 10:38 Developer Experience on Steam 13:28 Comparative Analysis of Game Platforms 16:28 Thoughts on Steam's Effectiveness 21:16 The Influence of Game Launch Timing 23:34 Understanding Game Following vs. Wishlisting 26:36 The Unique Position of Steam in Gaming 29:11 The Evolution of PC Gaming 33:52 Beta Testing Insights and Goals 44:37 The Beta Testing Experience 47:34 Feedback Dynamics in Game Development 50:30 Game Mechanics and Player Engagement 54:38 Balancing Game Elements and Player Perception 59:31 The Evolution of Game Characters To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • June 10 · 1 hr 5 min

    [Ep576] How Many Dudes Beta Begins, and AI Just Got Dumber

    In episode 576 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers kick off the closed beta for How Many Dudes and dig into what they're actually trying to learn from it. Then the conversation pivots hard into the AI hype cycle, unpacking why GitHub Copilot's switch to usage-based billing just handed a hundred-times-larger bill to the developers who went all in, and what that says about where this whole thing is headed. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:29 Introduction and Welcome 01:22 Closed Beta for How Many Dudes 08:15 Game Balancing: Challenges and Techniques 12:25 Evaluating Enemy Strength and Player Progression 18:27 Beta Test Goals and What They're Looking For 27:00 Pivot to AI and the Tech Landscape 29:32 How LLMs Actually Work 32:08 Agentic Programming Explained 37:08 The AI First Company Myth 40:02 Slot Machine Development 44:18 GitHub Copilot's Usage-Based Billing 50:34 The Dependency Trap 53:11 Where This All Ends Up 57:15 The Cost Reckoning Begins 01:00:01 What Comes After the Collapse To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • June 3 · 1 hr 6 min

    #[Ep575] Indie Devs Yell At Cloud

    In episode 575 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers are 60 days from launching How Many Dudes and find themselves juggling the final stretch of dev alongside the tedious reality of cloud saving, achievements, and store integrations. They dig into why every platform manages to turn straightforward tasks into elaborate obstacle courses, and what that actually costs developers in time and sanity when the deadline is creeping closer. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:29 Introduction and Welcome 03:08 Navigating Cloud Saving Solutions 09:02 User Authentication and Data Management 12:15 The Frustrations of Platform Requirements 15:17 Rumpus: A Custom Solution for Cloud Saving 18:03 The Impact of Privacy Regulations on Development 28:55 The Challenge of User Data Management 32:20 The Importance of Achievements in Gaming 36:22 Navigating the Complexities of Achievement Systems 42:10 The Manual Labor of Achievement Setup 49:12 Frustrations with Platform Limitations 01:00:19 The Challenges of Google Play Achievements 01:05:11 Developer Time Wasted by Big Tech To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

  • May 27 · 46 min

    [Ep574] Game Devs Discuss Far Far West

    In episode 574 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers check in on the new How Many Dudes box art with some real click-through numbers, then dive into Far Far West, a co-op shooter where you're a robot cowboy fighting skeletons and it somehow all works. They dig into what makes it click, why the Joker system is smart, and whether it can stay fun as the min-maxers inevitably show up. Support How Many Dudes! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes 00:00 Cold Open 00:28 Introduction and Welcome 01:16 How Many Dudes Box Art 11:26 Far Far West Nail or Whiff 25:05 Exploring the Game Mechanics 29:36 Rogue-like Elements and Progression 35:17 Design Aspects and Player Experience 40:10 Balancing Fun and Challenge 47:53 Overall Impressions and Recommendations To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com! Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

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